Bilbao Holidays: Guggenheim, Casco Viejo and Getting There
Bizkaia · Basque Country · Spain · 347,342 residents
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Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
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Bilbao Fine Arts Museum
Chavarri Palace
Plaza de Toros de BilbaoBilbao is a proper city of around 347,000 people in Bizkaia, in Spain's Basque Country, and it rewards travellers who come for culture rather than a sunlounger. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao sits about half a mile from the centre. The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, Euskal Museoa and St. James' Cathedral are all within easy walking distance, as is the old quarter, the Casco Viejo. The city lies inland at just 20 metres above sea level, and its airport is a 4-minute drive away, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Summers are mild, peaking around 26°C in August, and rain is part of the picture all year, so pack accordingly.
Why go
- The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the city's best-known landmark, is roughly half a mile from the centre.
- Bilbao airport has direct flights from the United Kingdom and sits a 4-minute drive away.
- Summer highs of 25 to 26°C in July and August make city walking comfortable rather than draining.
Top sights in Bilbao
Museums, Palaces and River Bridges
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a museum of modern and contemporary art, is the obvious starting point, about 0.6 miles from the centre. Close by is St. James' Cathedral, around 0.4 miles away, then the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum at roughly 0.7 miles. The landmark Chavarri Palace stands about half a mile out, and the Plaza de Toros de Bilbao, the city's bullring, is around 0.8 miles away.
The Alhóndiga Bilbao, a listed cultural building, lies about 0.6 miles from the centre. The Casco Viejo, the protected old quarter, and Euskal Museoa, the Basque Country Museum, are both about 0.4 miles away. Further along the river you will find the Itsasmuseum Bilbao at around 1.1 miles, and three bridges worth crossing on foot: La Salve at 0.6 miles, Deusto Bridge at 0.9 miles and the Puente Euskalduna at 1.1 miles. The Biscay Foral Delegation Palace, seat of the provincial council, and Ibaigane Palace are both short strolls away.
Tours and tickets for Bilbao can be booked directly on this page, with around 90 activities currently listed.
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1museumGuggenheim Museum Bilbao
1 mile from the centre · Photo
Museum of modern and contemporary art in Bilbao, Spain
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11palaceBiscay Foral Delegation Palace
In the centre · Photo
Headquarters of the Provincial Council of Vizcaya.
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Tours & tickets in Bilbao
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Bilbao can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Bilbao
Old Quarter or Museum District
Bilbao is an inland city, so the choice is about neighbourhood rather than beachfront. Base yourself near the Casco Viejo and you are about 0.4 miles from the cathedral and Euskal Museoa, in the oldest part of town. Stay closer to the Guggenheim and the Fine Arts Museum and you sit among the big museums and the river bridges.
With well over 300,000 residents, Bilbao has city-centre energy in the evenings. For something quieter, the smaller towns nearby suit a slower holiday. Live hotel prices for Bilbao are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Bilbao and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 4 min away.
Best time to visit Bilbao
When to Visit Bilbao
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- 14°CFeb129 mm
- 16°CMar106 mm
- 17°CApr83 mm
- 20°CMay78 mm
- 23°CJun72 mm
- 25°CJul44 mm
- 26°CAug54 mm
- 24°CSept79 mm
- 21°COct102 mm
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Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the warmest and driest months, with highs of 25 to 26°C, lows around 17°C and roughly 10 rainy days each. June and September are almost as pleasant, at 23 to 24°C, and make good choices for sightseeing without the peak-summer heat.
The wettest stretch runs from October to March. November is the wettest month, with around 159mm of rain over 16 days, and January highs reach only about 12°C. Even in spring, expect rain on 14 to 17 days a month, so a waterproof is worth packing whatever the season.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12°C | 6°C | 141 mm | 5 h |
| Feb | 14°C | 6°C | 129 mm | 6 h |
| Mar | 16°C | 7°C | 106 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 17°C | 9°C | 83 mm | 9 h |
| May | 20°C | 11°C | 78 mm | 10 h |
| Jun | 23°C | 15°C | 72 mm | 10 h |
| Jul | 25°C | 17°C | 44 mm | 11 h |
| Aug | 26°C | 17°C | 54 mm | 11 h |
| Sept | 24°C | 15°C | 79 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 21°C | 13°C | 102 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 16°C | 9°C | 159 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 8°C | 120 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Bilbao airport (BIO) is barely 2.5 miles from the city, about a 4-minute drive, and has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Santander (SDR) also has direct UK flights and is around 47 miles away, roughly an hour and five minutes by car. Zaragoza (ZAZ), again with direct UK flights, is about 146 miles away, around three and a half hours' drive.
If you prefer to bring the car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao, a crossing of roughly 28 to 32 hours, landing about 8 miles from the city. Santander, about 47 miles away, is reached from Portsmouth in around 24 to 32 hours or from Plymouth in about 20 hours. Driving all the way from Calais takes around 13 and a half hours.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)2 miles, about 4 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)47 miles, about 1 h 6 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Zaragoza (ZAZ)146 miles, about 3 h 28 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 13 h 24 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Bilbao (8 miles), Santander (47 miles).
Bilbao is good for
Around Bilbao
Easy Day Trips from Bilbao
Portugalete and Santurtzi, each home to around 46,000 people, are both within about 7 miles. Getxo, a larger town of nearly 81,000, is roughly 8 miles away.
Further out, Avellaneda is about 12 miles away and Balmaseda around 14 miles. Bermeo and the small town of Mundaka, with fewer than 2,000 residents, are both about 15 miles away, and Durango is around 16 miles from the city.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Bilbao
Rain falls on at least 10 days a month even in high summer, so build indoor plans around the museums and keep an umbrella handy.
Bilbao itself is not on the coast; head out to Getxo, Santurtzi or Bermeo if you want the sea. Most of the main sights lie within about a mile of the centre, so walking is the easiest way to get around a city of this size.
Questions people ask
Are there direct flights from the UK to Bilbao?
Yes. Bilbao airport has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is only about 2.5 miles from the city, around a 4-minute drive. Santander and Zaragoza airports also have direct UK flights if you find better times there.
How far is the Guggenheim from Bilbao city centre?
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is about 0.6 miles from the centre, so it is an easy walk. The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is around 0.7 miles away, making it simple to visit both in a single day.
What is the weather like in Bilbao in summer?
July and August are the warmest months, with highs of 25 to 26°C and lows around 17°C. They are also the driest, with roughly 10 rainy days each, so the occasional shower is still likely.
Can I take a ferry from the UK to Bilbao?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in roughly 28 to 32 hours, arriving about 8 miles from the city. Santander, around 47 miles away, has sailings from Portsmouth and from Plymouth, the latter taking about 20 hours.
Is Bilbao on the beach?
No, Bilbao is an inland city at about 20 metres above sea level. For the sea, nearby towns such as Santurtzi, around 7 miles away, Getxo at about 8 miles, and Bermeo at roughly 15 miles make straightforward day trips.
What is the wettest month in Bilbao?
November is the wettest month, with around 159mm of rain falling over 16 days. January is also wet and cool, with highs of about 12°C, so pack a good waterproof if you are visiting over the winter.